Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-10-28
NAlnin Mnirr.n

REMARKS BY nos. II. d. HARRIS.
W.. Trr,oi,.at These exercises have al
ready occupied 50 much time, aud the even
mg is now far spent, | AM sure | should
best consult your comfort and pleasure 10y
remaining silent altogether. But this be
cause of my deep interest in the occasion
and my long time personal friendship for
the guest - hOm We have met here to greet
and honor, | am not quite willing to do;
though ! can and do promise YOU that my
remarks shall have at least the one not un.
important merit of brevity 1t is pertinent
for me to premise. also, that what | may
say viii have no special reference to the
sentiment that has been proposed, which
could only Ice appropriately responded to, it
seems to me, by an alumnus Of the school.
prefer rather, if YOU will permit me, ut
the risk of repeating some things that have
been already said, Ia speak Of that domin-
ating, materialized power behind the throne,
thar has made your Alma Mater, in fact, as
in name, "a fostering mother of intellect
ual growth and Of manly and womanly vir-
tues
You have done well, young ladies' and
gentlemen of the High school. past and
present. say young, for you are all young
10y comparison, and most Of you in fact,
and have lfe's labors, responsibilities and
rewards, and, better than all, its grand op-
portunitirs and its almost limitless posslhil-
tiles, ,till before you-you have done well.
I repeat to inaugurate this occasion aud
these formal ceremonies in commemoration
Of an event of rare occurrence and still
rnrrr significance, in the progress to which
You have all, ia turn, borne more or less
conspicuous and honorable part. 1t seldom
happens 10 man or woman anywhere, as to
SIR. Bingham, to devote - years of contin-
nous service IN the same locality u the
training of the young. During all these
years, covering period nearly equal to the
average duration Of human life. his has
been the one central figure around which
you have all rcvolved, in obedience to laws,
better understood, perhaps, but scarcely
less fixed and interchangeable than those
which regulate the movements of the celes-
tial spheres. He has stood here at his post
of duty day after day, month after month,
and year after year, the ever watchful
friend, teacher and guide of these success
sive generations of pupils that have
come and gone--a sturdy, positive, aggres-
sIve personality, having IN II neither varia
bleness nor shadow of turning. His voice
has given forth no uncertain sound, his in
deX finger has pointed in no uncertain di-
rection Loving his chosen life work, his
intense soul has been IN il, and his mental
and physical energies have been consecrat-
ed To it ; and, as a sure token Of success,
and his own most satisfying reward, no
doubt, he has today the universal respect,
/ love and loyalty of his great aud constant
/ ly growing constituency. Nor have his i'm
mediate pupils alone been recipients of the
benefits lowing from his teaching this
whole community has shared in them How
Of
much Of the moral rectitude and respect
/ for whatever makes for the public peace
and welfare, for which Brattleboro is
confessedly distinguished above all other
towns Of its size is due to Mr.. Bingham S
faithful admonitions and discipline, may
perhaps never he fully realized though no
| good citizen fails to recognize and thank
/ fully acknowledge it. While saving these
things, which | believe to be only what is
I justly due 70 him and his faithful life-ser-
vice in our behalf, do not intend 10 he,
am not, blind, undiscrminating eulogist
1t is not given to ordinary man to attain
perfection, and ! am sure our honOred
| friend claims no exemption from the limit
atoms that belong to our common human
ty, No man who permits his brain and his
conscience to do honest work, as he surely
does, has ever reached the years attained
by Mr.. Bingham without looking back on
many things in his past life-sins both OF
omission and commission with heartfelt
regret and he, in his sturdy honesty and
integrity Of character, would be quick t.
deprecate amy friendly attempt to ahsolv,
him from the common frailtes and mistake
that heset the pathway of life, from which
none wholly escape ! do not claim fol
hiw therefore, and ne certainly does no
claim for himself, that he is altogether ,
faultlcs- man but do claim in all posi-
tiveness and sincerity that, for quarter o
IA century, in spite Of errors and limita
tions, he has been IA constant, vigorous an,
ever-mcreasing power for good in this com
muuity aud that you and your associates
Mr.. President, honor yourselves in honor
ing him